(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) Thanks to an anonymous donor, every public school in Oklahoma will receive four KN95 masks for every teacher and school staffer. These shipments come at a time when the vast majority of school districts are having in-person learning amid a statewide drop in COVID-19 cases.

“Masks are important in our arsenal of successful COVID-19 mitigation strategies,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “We are extremely grateful to this donor for prioritizing our hard-working school personnel who have been on the frontlines of this pandemic.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS), a consortium of school safety officers, and a network of city, county and tribal emergency managers to help distribute the masks over the next two weeks.

“We are truly appreciative of this generous donation and for the invaluable teamwork involved in making sure the masks are delivered to each school across the state,” said Mark Gower, ODEMHS Director.

In addition to 400,000 KN95 masks, the donation also included 60,000 adult surgical masks, 104,000 youth masks for ages 6-12 and 50,000 masks for children up to 5 years of age.

United States of America

Oklahoma

More than 600,000 masks going to Oklahoma schools, thanks to anonymous donor

US Department of Education

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) As blood supplies have dwindled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister is urging schools to host drives for staff and students to help ensure the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) can meet demand.

Blood drive cancellations are driving supplies to critically low levels. To maintain a strong blood supply, 1,200 donations a day are needed in Oklahoma. With more than 30% of total donations in the state collected from donors associated with education groups, school-based drives are critical.

“One of every three units of blood used in our state is collected from blood drives held with the educational system,” said Hofmeister. “School-based drives are essential to ensuring a strong blood supply for our friends and neighbors. I encourage all educators to uphold the Oklahoma Standard of helping one another through difficulty by supporting blood drives.”

OBI has taken measures to ensure the donation process is safe, implementing social distancing within designated spaces and spreading drives across multiple days to reduce the number of donors at a given time. Additionally, sanitation practices, particularly in high-touch areas, have been enhanced above the customary medical-grade procedures. Temperatures are screened outside the donation area, and donors and staff are masked. Donors can also complete health screening questions before arriving at the blood drive site to encourage minimal contact between blood drive staff and donors.

Healthy students 16 and older are eligible to donate if they weigh at least 125 pounds, while donors 18 and older have a minimum weight requirement of 110 pounds. All donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies that reveal whether an individual has been previously exposed to the virus. Those 16 and 17 years of age must have parental permission to receive this testing.

OBI has produced a flyer and video to encourage schools to host blood drives. To schedule a drive or for additional information, visit https://obi.org/

School blood drives encouraged as supply plummets

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) Oklahoma schools served more than 1.7 million meals to students in a nine-day period during the cessation of school operations in late March, according to new numbers from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). The agency’s Office of Child Nutrition released the figures for the March 23-31 reporting period this week.  

“Our schools have responded in extraordinary ways to the myriad uncertainties posed by a global pandemic,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “These incredible efforts by child nutrition workers and school leaders to bring millions of meals to kids since March 23 is further evidence that educators instinctively put kids first. I am thankful and humbled by their work.” 

The meals were served Monday, March 23, through Tuesday, March 31, at 645 sites within 406 school districts. Total meals served were 1,784,608. The numbers were broken down into breakfasts (863,958), lunches (914,281) and snacks (6,369).  

Under a waiver granted in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all students across the state have access to two free meals a day under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program or the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Previously, districts could provide free meals only if 50% of students at a school met eligibility for the free and reduced-price lunch program. OSDE has received a total of 13 USDA waivers to loosen restrictions on school meal service during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Last year, only 33% of Oklahoma school districts participated in the summer feeding program, despite 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches, a figure that has likely risen amid the economic hardships brought by COVID-19. Hofmeister hopes to see additional districts continue their summer programs after distance learning ends for the current school year. 

“With district meal programs around the state up and running during this period of distance learning, I encourage school leaders to keep the momentum going and sustain these valuable programs through the summer,” Hofmeister said. “Our communities have been hit hard by this pandemic, and many families are struggling. Providing meals to students this summer is a tangible support we can give families amid so much uncertainty and challenge.” 

To find out more about continuing feeding programs through the summer, contact OSDE’s Office of Child Nutrition at (405) 521-3327.

US Department of Education

More than 600,000 masks going to Oklahoma schools, thanks to anonymous donor

School blood drives encouraged as supply plummets

Oklahoma schools serve more than 1.7 million meals in single week in March